WIU Rugby Team Members Face Hazing Charges

Five members of the Western Illinois University Rugby Team are facing charges related to a hazing incident last week.

Credit WIU Rugby Team Facebook page

The Macomb Police department is reporting they responded to a call at 301 N. Johnson Street on May 2 to find a man with a life threatening case of alcohol poisoning. Another man later arrived a the hospital with similar symptoms.

A police investigation found that the rugby team held an initiation that included new recruits drinking a lot of alcohol over a short period of time.

The students arrested are:

Lucas Sgarlata, 23 and John Landes, 24; both from Sycamore, IL.

Aidan Belcher, 21 of Elgin, IL

Bradley Basala, 19 of Matherville, IL

Jack Lord, 20 of Naperville, IL

Police are still looking for two other WIU students involved in the incident. The WIU rugby team is a university club, and not affiliated with the school’s athletic department.